Berlin, June 18: The Berlin Open witnessed a thrilling showdown as Alexandra Ella and Nikola Bartunkova triumphed over their more seasoned opponents to secure spots in the quarterfinals.
Twenty-one-year-old Ella recently defeated Queens Club champion Donna Vekic with a score of 7-5, 6-4. Meanwhile, 20-year-old Bartunkova advanced to her first professional grass-court quarterfinal by overcoming Elise Mertens 6-1, 6-4.
Ella is set to face second seed Elena Rybakina, who previously defeated Filipina earlier this season in Rome. Bartunkova will compete against either world number one Aryna Sabalenka or Ekaterina Alexandrova.
Vekic initiated the match with an early break, but Ella quickly leveled the score and gained control by winning several games. When it mattered most, she fearlessly executed shots against Vekic’s serve, clinching the first set.
In the second set, Ella established an early lead. A medical emergency in the stands briefly halted the match, but it did not distract her.
In the final stages, Ella found herself facing four break points despite Vekic’s aggressive returns. Instead of retreating, she relied on her serve, capitalizing on every opportunity and sealing her victory with three consecutive unreturned deliveries. Her serving proved crucial, finishing the match with eight aces and saving 12 of 14 break points.
After her victory, Ella remarked, “I told myself that she was fighting back, but I am a fighter too. I had to try and give her a tough match. You know Donna is an incredible player. Every time I play against her, it’s very challenging. I had high hopes for this match.”
This win extended Ella’s unbeaten record against Vekic to 2-0, following her comeback victory earlier this year in Auckland.
In Bartunkova’s match, the Czech player applied pressure from the start with aggressive net play, combining sharp angles and clever touches against Mertens.
Bartunkova laid a solid foundation with a strong performance in the first set, but she needed to display more resilience in the second. After trailing by two games, she regained control with clean ball striking, keeping Mertens off balance.
The former Wimbledon junior finalist exhibited remarkable composure under pressure. Despite giving Mertens a chance during a tense service game with consecutive double faults at the end of the second set, Bartunkova quickly bounced back, narrowly escaping before finishing the match by saving five of six break points.
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